Apparatus for treating porous blocks.



C. E. FULLER.. APPARATUS FOR TREATNG POROUS BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9. 1915.

Patented Nov. 20, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wiftweooeb C. E. FULLER. IIPIARATLIS FOR TREAI'ING POROUS BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-9.1915.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917,

' `I?, SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. FULLER.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FOROUS BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9| |915.

y Patented Nov. 20, 191?,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. for Treating Porous Bl following is a specificati n.

'maratea han' feras r that CLAUD Ei ZFU'IIIL'LIER,l KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

To all whom t may concern.' A n, Be it known that l, CLAUD/ E. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, havey invented ai certain new and useful Improvement in A ,pxratus s, of whichthe My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating porous blocks.

llt relatesto the treating of porous paving blocks, such as bricks, consisting in lilling the pores of the blocks with material,

such as liquid bitumen, preferably in the form of asphalt, whereby the blocks will be rendered very durable and impervious to moisture# will have their resiliency increased, and, when used for street pavir, will be comparatively noiseless under tra c conditions.

ln Letters Patent Numbers 1,063,964 and 1,063,965, issued to me .l une 10, 1913, there `are described a method and apparatus for treating paving blocks, in which the blocks are first heated, aiterv which thev air is eX- hausted therefrom, following which the blocks are immersed inliquid bitumen, the

blocksv being held under pressure greater than atmospheric during such immersion,

after which the immersing fluid is withdrawn from the immersing chamber and the;

blocks' permitted to cool, while still under pressure, until the bitumen contalned 1n the Ablocks has s/olidiied. The cooling' of the blocks while held in the. immersion chamber under pressure consumes an extended period of time, during whichv the treatment of other blocks in the same chamber cannot be proceeded with. The treatment under` such process and with such apparatus is,there fore, expensive and the production is greatly limited. lfthe blocks are removed from the immersion chamber to permit of theuse oi' the chamber for the immersion of other blocks, and the blocks which have been im#v mersed are left in the open air, the asphalt coating on the exterlor of the blocks will r y r Specircation of Letters Patent. l g a y vllllication led October 9, 1915. Serial No. 55,064.

errana'rrrs ron rasatura-G ronous BLOCKS..

Patented Nov. 2U), .1917.

quickly-cool and solidify and thep blocks will be stuck together ina solid mass. The lobject of my present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus by whichy the cost of treatment will be greatly decreased and by which the output will be largely increased. f

ln my -present invention, the blocks or bricks, after immersion in the liquid bitumen, are gradually cooled in a temperature below the'melting'point of the bitumen and above the ordinary atmospheric temperature ,and at substantially atmospheric pressure.

s the blocks .are gradually cooled, the outer coating of bitumen` will be absorbed into thev'pores of the blocks as the bitumeny contracts in cooling, due to the fact that the coeliicient of expansion of the bitumen is greater than that of the blocks or bricks, and due to the fact that the exterior coatina' of bitumen is retained at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent its solidiication until it has been absorbed into the pores of the blocks. f'

Blocks treated with-my present apparatus I f venting coolingto solidication of the surface liquid on the blocks until it has been absorbed by the blocks.

1n v the accompanying-drawings, which i illustrate the invention,

Figure 1 is alongitudinal view partly in vertical section Iand partly in elevation of the immersing chamber, the tank for containing the liquid illingjmaterial, and parts preferred embodiment of my connected therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,' thecar loaded with blocks -being omitted.

Elli

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the 'line 3 3 off 1 r lig. Li is a reduced horizontal sectional view of the immersing, pre-heating and cooling, chambers and parts connected therewith., Fig, 5 is an enlarged cross section on the or holding it tightly closed during the immersing operation. A track 5 extends lonn gitudinally into the immersing cylinder 1 and is provided with two bran-ches (i and 7, which extend respectively into av` preheating chamber 8 and a cooling or .tempering chamber 9, 4;.

Theblocks 10 to be treated are mounted upon cars, one ot which, designated ,by 11, is shown in the immersing cylinder l i9 mounted on the track 5. Doors 12 and 13 are-,provided lfor closing the ends respec' tively oi the pre-heating chamber 8. 'Uoors 111 and 15 are provided tor respectively closing the ends ot the cooling chamber 9.

The immersing cylinder 1 is mounted in a furnace 16, which is provided in its lower portion with a horizontal longitudinal due 17, which discharges upwardly between a plurality ot parallel horizontal transverse bain members 18 and against the under side o the` cylinder 1.

Mounted in the iurnface 16 above the im mersing cylinder l is a supply tank 19 which is adapted to contain the supply ot bitunni-y nous imaterial with which the yblocks 10 are to be impregnated. 'llhe tank 19 is supported u on transverse bars 20, the ends of whic are supported by the walls ot the turnace 16, andthe middle portions owhich may be supported by pillars 21, vmountedon the cylinder l.

Horizontal shelves 22 extend longitudinally along- 'the walls of the furnace-.16 at opposite sidesof and against the cylinder 1 from the rear end of the furnace to a pointj adjacent tothe itorward end of the cyllnder 1.,

Shelves 23 extend longitudinally along the walls of the iurnace 16 at opposite sides ot and against the tank 19 trom the forward end ot the furnace to a point adjacent to the rear end thereofs i narrator A burner 2d discharges into the rearI end ot the due v117a Theproducts ci combustion trom said burner pass forwardly through the flue l?, thence upwardly between the bahling members 18, thence forwardly to and around the orwardends of the shelves 22, thence upwardly and rearwardly over said shelves and against the tank 19, thence rearwardly to and around th-e rear ends ot the shelves 2S, and thenceforwardly above said shelves, into the smoke stack 25 with. which the furnace 16 is providedo llor supplementing the heat from the burner 24:, burners 26 may be provided, These burners are arranged to discharge rearwardly between the cylinder 1 and the tank 19 at the forward end et the furnace 16.

For heating the tank 19 interiorly, there are placed therein a plurality oit steam. pipe coils 27, one set oi' ends of which connect with a header 28, and the other set ot' ends ot which connect with a header 29, rllhe headers 28 and 29 and the coils 27 form a steamer radiator, which is supplied with Asteam. by a steam pipe 30, which connects with the header 28, and with the boiler ot a steam producer 31, which, preferably, discharges its gaseous products of combustion into the furnace 16 through a pipe 32. At pipe is connected tothe header 29 and to the boiler of the steam producer 31.

fm For ascertaining1 the temperature ot theinterior ot the cylinder 1, it may have er;- tentilinga from the outside into it thermometers Sddisposedat suitable places. 'Ehermometers 3 5 are similarly provided tor the tank 19, 1

The battling members 18 are preferably adjustable toward andl :from 'each other, those farthest from the burnerlQd being spaced i'artherapart than those nearer to said burner.

For transferring the liquld bitumen from the tank b9 to the immersing cylinder 1, and

tor returning the bitumen to the tank 19, a

conductor 36 is connected to the lower side ot the cylinder 1 and is provided with two branches 37' and 38 which are respectivelyl connected to the lower side and the; upper side ot the tank 19, Shut-oft valvesv 39 and 40 are respectively located in the branches 37 and 3d.

Adjacent to the immersing lcylinder 1 is an air pump 41 ot any suitable type. Means are provided by which the pump 4:1 may exhaust air from the cylinder 1 or torce air into said cylinder, as may be desired.v For lll@ ne l

edecting these` functions ll have provided` the followingF described mechanism:

'llhe pum-p a1 is provided with a-cylinder d2 in which is mounted a reciprocative piston d3. A conductor ill is connectedto the upper side oil the cylinder 1, and is provided 'ist with two branches 45 and 46 'connected to the cylinder 42 adjacent to the respective ends thereof. In the branch 45 are located a shut-off valve 47 and a check valve 48. In the branch 46 are located a shut-olf valve 49 /and a check valve 50. The branch 45 is provided with a branch 51 open to the atmosphere and provided with a shut-oill valve 52 and a check valve 53. The branch 46 is provided with a branch 54 open to the at mosphere and having a shut-off valve 55 and a check valve 56. The check valves 48 and 56 open toward the cylinder 42, and the valves49 and 53 open away from the cylinder 42.

Connected to the cylinder 42 adjacent to its respective ends are exhaust pipes 57 and 58 in which are respectively located shut-off valves 59 and 60. K

When it is desiredv to exhaust the'air from the cylinder l, the door 2 is closed as are the valves 39 and 40. The valves V47 52 and 60 are opened, and the valves 49, and 59 are closed. The piston 43 is then reciprocated upon which air will be drawn from the cylinder 1 through the conductor 44 and branch 45 into the pump cylinder 42 and then discharged toy the atmosphere through the branch 45 and branch 51.

In pumping air into the cylinder 1,' the valves 39, 40, 47, 52 and 60" are closed andv i the'valves 49, 55 and 59 are opened. yWhen Kthe piston 43 is reciprocated, air will be drawn into the pump cylinder 42 through the branches 46 and 54 and discharged into the cylinder 1 through the branch 46 and conductor 44.

Connected to the conductor 44 may be provided a pressure gage 61 and a vacuum gage 62 by which the air'pressure in the cylinder 1 may be determined.

For the purpose of determining the level of the immersing liquid in the immersing cylinder 1, there may be provided a oat 63Y having a vertical upwardly extending stein 64 vertically movable in the conductor 44 and adapted to enter the transparent eX- tension 65 with which the conductor 44 is,

provided. Y

Below the chambers 8 and 9 respectively are two longitudinal :dues 67 and 66'respectively, which respectively discharge up-v wardly between baiiing members 68, corresponding to the baffling members 18,;into tjhe pre-heating chamber 8 and cooling cham- Discharging respectively into one set of ends oic the iues 67 and 66 are burners 69 and 70.

A discharge conductor 71 having rotative-ly mounted in it an exhaust fan 72 has two branches 73 and74 which respectively connect to the upper `parts and right hand l ends, as viewed in Fig. 6 and 4 of the chambers 8 and 9. n the branches 7 3 and 74 are respectively mounted two' swinging dampers 7 5` and 76, which respectively control t-he amount of air dra-wn from the chambers 8 and 9 bythe exhaust fan 72. By

proper control of the burners 69 and 70 and of the dampers 75 and 76, temperatures respectively suitable for the purposes of the are to be treated, are run onthe track 6 into the pre-heating chamber 8. This chamber may/be retained at a temperature above the melting 1point of ther lilling y-Inaterial to be employed 'in impregnating the blocks.-

yWhen the blocks are heated to theI desired temperature, the doors 13 and 2 are opened,

fand the cars carrying the blocks are run into the -immersing cylinder 1 upon the track 5. I

.the car 11, loaded with the blocks 10, which ln the meantime, the burner 24 and the gsteam producer 31 have been operated so asy to heat the immersing cylinder v1 to the proper temperature, and to heat the tank 19 suficiently to melt the illing material which is contained.v therein.

inder 1 and tank 19 will be heated above the melting point of `the asphalt, lthe door 2 lhaving been closed and tightly. clamped by means of the securing devices 4, which may( be swinging bolts provided with nuts, such as are commonly provided for purposes yoit this kllldm rll`he pump 41 is y lf the lling material is asphalt, the interior of the cyl- M then operated, in the' man- Y l ner hereinbefore described, Vto exhaust the air from the immersing cylinder 1. shut-od vvalve 39 is then opened, therebypermitting the melted. lling material to flow from the tank 19 through the conducrio tor 36 and its branch 37 into the cylinder' l until the blocks 10 in said cylinder are immersed. The valve- 39 is then clbsed, and the pump 41" is operated to torce air into the immersing cylinder 31. After a Sullicient pressure has been producedin the cylv inder 1, the. valves 47 and 49 are closed, tollowingwhich the Ablocks are permitted to remain in the cylinder 1 under pressure and immersed until their pores have been com-` pletely lled with the iminersing' liquid.

he'valve 40 is then opened and also thev valve 49 and valves 55 and 59, and the pump 41 is again operated to pump air into the cylinder 'the air pressure in said cylinder will torce the liquid lling material from the cylinder l through the conductor 36 and branch 38 into the tanlr itl.,

After the cylinder has been emptied of the liquid illing material, the vdoor 2 is opened, the rail sections 77 put in place and. the cars il loaded with the impregnated. blocks l0 are run over the branch traclr if t@ into the cooling chamber 9, the .door 'le thereot being ,opened tor this purpose.

.@ifter'the cars have been run into the cooling chamber, the door l5 is closed, and ythe blocks are allowed. torremain in the cooling le chamber until the lling 'material has soliditiedb During` this periodl ot time, the teinperature in the cooling chamber 9 is retained belen7 the meltingipoint et the lling matal rial, and at a point suiiiciently high above atmospheric temperature to prevent the sud.- olen cooling ot the'bloclrs and the consequent chilling ot the impregnatinp; material vwhich lidif the im renatin materialcontained.`

therein, the blocks will not Stich together te but may be easily separated aiter the door tc has been opened and the cars have bee f run out ot thecooling chamber,

While the coolingn operation is being car-` ried on, an instalment or pre-heating blocksv e@ may be undergoing immersion in the cham-.- ber l, and anothersset ot blocks may be,`at .the same time, undergoing the'pre-heating operation in thechamber r'lhe operation may thus be .made practically continuous,

et thereby eecting a great savingf in fuel and time anda llarge increase in the output et the 'apparatuso By reason ot the contiguity ofthe chain-- bers 8 and 9 theA heating :trom the chamber e@ 8y mayl be employed by conduction. tor as'- sisting in heating the'chamber 9.;

, Within thel scope ci' the appended claims,

maybe made -Without departing trom its et spirit., ,u l v ing chamber, a protective cooling chamber4 @@havin provision :tor preventing cooling `to solidi ation ot thesurtace vli uid on the blocks until it has been absor` eel by the"v blocks, and means by which the blocks may tract: running into said1 immersingchamber and having tvvo branches running respect .E i 4 tively into sala pre-heating ano cooling" chambers, and a car adapted to carrythe blocks to be 'treated and to run, upon said f.

tracl and into said chambers.

an in an apparatus 'for treating paving blocks, an immersing chamber, a pre-heat ing means tor independently heatingsaid chambers, and means by which. the bloclrs to be treated` magT be transl-erred from one or said chambers to the others;

i an apparatus tor treatingwporous @il orpren blochs, an immersing chamber, protective cooling chamber havin@l provisie venting cooling to soliditication or thesurtace liquid on the blocks until it has been absorbed by the bloclra'and means by which the bloclrsmay .be transferred trom the immersing ,chamber to the cooling chamber,

an apparatus `tor treatingn paving chamber, closed cooling chamber,

i blocks', an immersingchamber, a closed cool .'blocks, a re-heatingchamber, a closed cool- 'ing chamber having; means by which the blocks may be cooled in air'at substantially atmospheric pressure and having1 a temperature above ordinary atrnosphericv temperature, means ltor heating/'said chambers, and

means by which the blocks to be treated may 'be transterrecl,l from theinnnersing chamber to the cooling chambg'er.I

27. ln an apparatus tor treating paving1 I.

ing cham er, heating? means .by"which said chambers may be retained atdiierent tem-v -eiperatures and the heat corniucted from one .to the other, and' means by which the blocks to be treated may be transferredfrom one of t vsaid chambers to the other,a -Varlous modlgcations of my. invention,"

i 8, ln an apparatus for treating porous p -substance which solidities atordinary atl. ln an apparatus tor treating ,porous blocks, lan immersing chamber, a pre-heat--' f mospheric temperature, means by whichl the blocks vafter suchiersion may betrans- 7 ferred iromsaid immereing means and protective means "by which the transferred im ymersed blocks maybe graduallycoolediha iro' naamw mospheric temperature and at substantially -atmospheric pressure, said protective means blocks until it has been absorbed by the blocks.

9. An apparatus for treating porous blocks, an Vimmersing chamber for receiving the blocks9 means by which said blocks'held in ,said chamber may be impregnated with a liquid substance which solidiies at ordinary atmospheric temperature, means for prevheating the blocks before such impregna.-

tion, means by which the blocks after impregnation may be transferred from said impregnating means, and protective means by Which the transferred immersed blocks may be gradually cooled at a temperature above ordinary atmospheric temperature and at substantially atmospheric pressure, said protective means'having provision for preventing cooling to solidication of the surface liquid on the blocks until it has been absorbed by the blocks.

ln testimony whereof l `have signed my name to this spe `3iltlcationu omen n. runnen. 

